Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture

February 7, 2009–January 2, 2011

The majestic power and rich history of the Hudson River continues to flow through the Albany Institute of History & Art with “Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture.” This historic exhibition commemorates Henry Hudson’s 1609 exploration of the river that bears his name, and the remarkable narrative of the people, events, and ideas that have shaped this magnificent region.

Featuring hundreds of artifacts, works of art, interactive displays, and rare archival documents from the Albany Institute’s renowned collections, “Hudson River Panorama” encompasses five major themes relating to the many agricultural, industrial, and cultural influences of this historic waterway:

Community and Settlement Natural History and Environment Transportation Trade, Commerce, and Industry Culture and Symbol

Complementing the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain quadricentennial—an international celebration stretching from New York City to Québec Province—“Hudson River Panorama” explores and narrates the influential force that the Hudson has had on our region, including settlement, agricultural cultivation, industrial growth, tourism, and the cultural prominence of the region's talented and creative artists, writers, architects, and landscape gardeners.

For more than three years, the Albany Institute researched topics related to the Hudson River in preparation for the exhibition and accompanying educational programs. The process was a journey of exploration and discovery, unearthing accounts of the people and events that have shaped the history of the Hudson Valley. With a topic as vast and wide-ranging as the Hudson River, selecting key events, people, innovations, and ideas to relate broader narratives of the river has been both crucial and challenging.

Support for this exhibition has been provided by:Leadership Support

Equinox Foundation

Major Project Support

William Randolph Hearst Foundation; Institute of Museum and Library Services; New York State Council on the Arts Digitization Initiative; New York Council for the Humanities; MetLife Foundation; Future 400 Society of the Albany Institute; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation/Hudson River Estuary Fund; Bank of America Foundation; Bender Family Foundation, Mr. Matthew Bender IV, Phoebe Powell Bender; Buchman Foundation; Teaching the Hudson Valley; Assemblyman Robert Reilly Salary Fund